The Pittsburgh Steelers' training camp ahead of the 2024 season has been one of the most intense throughout the entire NFL. Several fights have broken out, and many highlight clips have been made of players roughing each other up. Head Coach Mike Tomlin has given his team breaks and held practices without pads. He follows all rules and regulations set forth by the league, but he also takes full advantage of the time that he has. Pittsburgh tackles to the ground in practice, which not many teams across the league do as much as the Steelers.
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Mike Tomlin shrugs his shoulders at Steelers' Camp.
Many players that join the Steelers after spending time with another organization are not used to this. The same goes for former Baltimore Ravens linebacker, Patrick Queen. Queen signed a three-year deal with Pittsburgh during free agency, and is entering his first season with the team. He recently made an appearance on Movin' The Chains on SiriusXM, where he shared that he had players in Pittsburgh warning him about the physicality of their practices.
"I didn't know. Breiden Fehoko actually texted me when I signed. He was like, 'Get ready for Latrobe'. I was like, 'What you mean?', he was like, 'It's just like LSU camp'. So I was like, 'As far as tackling?', and he was like, 'Yup!'. I was like, 'Okay, cool'. In the NFL, it's kind of crazy to tackle at practice."
Tackling during practice at the college level is definitely more accepted. When Queen was playing college football, players weren't getting paid and they were just trying to make it to the league. College rosters are bigger, and the season is shorter so tackling during practice makes sense. In the NFL, these players are valuable. They sign big contracts with guaranteed money, so every time a tackling drill is introduced the team is taking a risk in some way shape or form.
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Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen runs a drill while working on a sled during the team's 2024 Organized Team Activities (OTAs) in Pittsburgh, PA.
Something that often plagues NFL teams at the start of the regular season is tackling. Players try to arm tackle, or just don't bring the right amount of intensity or physicality when meeting the ball carrier. Pittsburgh hopefully won't run into that issue, as they have been working on it every time the pads come on during camp.
Not only does this help the players knock the rust off before the regular season, but it also helps them mentally. It gets them closer to midseason form than other teams, and teaches them to fight through adversity before the season even begins. The intensity has already ramped up in 2024, as every time the players have put the pads on skirmishes have broken out and things have gotten chippy.
Tomlin doesn't force his players to tackle in an irresponsible way. He is one of the most respected coaches in the league, and makes sure his players are fully healthy before throwing them into the fire.
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Steelers' Najee Harris stiff arms former Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen.
Steelers' Patrick Queen Seems To Love The Intensity Of Pittsburgh's Training Camp
Queen has been at the center of some of the physical moments so far in Steelers training camp. He and running back Najee Harris have had some moments, as the former rivals have been competing against one another in the backs on backers drill. This drill simulates a running back in pass protection, and Harris has won these battles against Queen for the most part. Harris has been extremely focal during this training camp, which has caused him and Queen to get into some shoving matches.
By the time the regular season rolls around, Pittsburgh should be primed and ready to go against the Atlanta Falcons. Queen and the defense will be ready to hit on a highly potent offense, and the offense will look to display the grit they have shown all training camp.
What do you think about Queen getting warned about how the Steelers practice? Let us know in the comments below!
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